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Express Tribune
28-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM urges united front on digital transformation
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed the federal government to hold meaningful consultations with provincial governments for effective and comprehensive implementation of the Digital Transformation Plan. Chairing a weekly review meeting on Cashless and Digital Economy in the federal capital, the prime minister said digitalisation of the economy will help promote transparency. The core objective of the federal government's Digital Transformation Plan is to provide ease and convenience to the public without any additional cost, he said, adding that the government was encouraging digital payments and digital transfer of funds through policy measures. All provincial governments, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, should fully cooperate with the federal government regarding the digitalisation of the economy and cashless economy, the prime minister stressed. He added that with the cooperation of provincial governments and institutions, the federal government's Digital Transformation Plan should be further streamlined to ensure targets are achieved within the set timelines. Meaningful consultation with all stakeholders should be made a permanent feature of this plan, the prime minister added. During the meeting, the prime minister was told that the National Digital Commission and the Pakistan Digital Authority had been established, and the necessary rules have been formulated. The appointment process of the chairperson and members of the Pakistan Digital Authority is in its final stages. Furthermore, it was informed that the Merchant Onboarding Framework for digital services was launched on July 25, 2025. The meeting was attended by ministers for finance, economic affairs and IT among others.
Business Recorder
28-07-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz underscores digital economy push to enhance transparency, ease public access
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that digitisation of the economy will help improve transparency and ensure public convenience without adding financial burden on citizens. Chairing a high-level meeting to review progress on the government's digital transformation and cashless economy agenda, the premier said the core objective of the digital transition plan is to offer efficient services to the public free of additional cost. 'The federal government is encouraging digital payments and electronic fund transfers through focused policy measures,' Sharif noted. PM Shehbaz approves formation of digital ecosystem in FBR He directed authorities to hold meaningful consultations with provincial governments to ensure effective and inclusive implementation of the digital transformation roadmap. The prime minister also instructed provincial administrations, including those of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, to fully cooperate with the federal government in advancing the digital and cashless economy agenda. With provincial support, he said, the government's digital initiatives could be accelerated to achieve key targets within the stipulated timelines. Sharif further called for institutionalising stakeholder engagement as a regular feature of the transformation process. PM Shehbaz lauds FBR reforms as tax filers jump to 7.2mn The briefing during the meeting highlighted that the National Digital Commission and Pakistan Digital Authority had been established, and necessary regulatory frameworks finalised. The process of appointing the chairperson and members of the authority is in its final stages. Officials also informed the meeting that the Merchant Onboarding Framework, a key component of the digital payments infrastructure, was formally launched on July 25, 2025. The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, the chief secretaries of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK, as well as senior federal officials.
Express Tribune
08-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Envisioning a digital nation
The writer is a practising lawyer. He can be reached at Listen to article Digital Pakistan Policy 2018, though a well-intentioned initiative by the federal government, lacked a clear roadmap. It failed to articulate concrete policy objectives, outline legislative and infrastructural strategies and identify key socioeconomic sectors for digitalisation. More critically, it neglected to foster a competitive digital economy — an essential driver of sustainable progress. In an attempt to fill these gaps, the Digital Nation Pakistan Act 2025 was enacted with the ambitious goal of transforming Pakistan into a 'digital nation' through digital society, economy and governance. The law was hailed for providing a structured framework to accelerate economic development, enhance public services and improve citizen well-being. However, while the Act's preamble makes lofty promises, the provisions envision the establishment of three overlapping bodies: the National Digital Commission, responsible for approving and overseeing the National Digital Masterplan; the Pakistan Digital Authority, tasked with developing and implementing the Masterplan; and an Oversight Committee, mandated to independently review the Authority's performance. These bodies are heavily bureaucratic and government-controlled, raising concerns about their effectiveness and autonomy. Despite the presence of such legal frameworks, Pakistan has barely achieved 5% e-governance. True e-governance eliminates bureaucratic red tape, minimises citizen visits to government offices and improves efficiency through digital records. Yet, the reality remains starkly different. The level of digital governance can be measured by the number of affidavits, attestations and excessive documentation still required for basic government services. The failure to digitise judicial processes alone is a glaring issue. With over 2.6 million pending cases, Pakistan's courts require centuries to clear their backlog at the current pace. Similarly, land record digitisation remains a distant dream, allowing for rampant fraud and multiple ownership claims on single properties. In contrast, Estonia's e-governance model allows citizens to access government services online, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies. India's Aadhaar system has streamlined identification and access to public services. The UAE has adopted digital governance models that minimise red tape and corruption. Pakistan's failure extends beyond governance; it is a nation deprived of accurate, real-time data. From child abuse statistics to the number of government vehicles, coal mines and industrial accidents, Pakistan relies on global organisations and foreign-funded NGOs for its own information. The absence of digital records has enabled corruption on an enormous scale. A 2024 audit of KMC exposed nearly 950 ghost employees and 200 more drawing double salaries using the same CNIC. Without robust digital tracking, such financial haemorrhaging continues unchecked. Becoming a digital nation demands consistency, effective implementation of laws and basic digital infrastructure. In a country where even internet connectivity is unreliable, the government envisions sweeping digital reforms. Yet, it lacks comprehensive data protection laws to safeguard citizens' personal information. Without such safeguards, there are no limits to how data is collected, stored or potentially misused — an alarming prospect in a country with weak cybersecurity measures. Pakistan's digital potential is immense, but the government's obsession with control stifles progress. A true digital nation empowers its citizens, safeguards their rights and fosters transparency and accountability. Instead, Pakistan's approach remains top-down, prioritising government authority over citizen engagement. Before pushing ambitious digital initiatives, Pakistan must get the basics right — reliable internet access, strong cybersecurity measures and data protection laws that uphold privacy rights. Any digital transition must be transparent and include public consultation. Citizens have the right to know how their data is used and to grant or withhold consent. Even a hybrid democracy must uphold the pretence of democratic values. If Pakistan truly aims to become a digital nation, it must first build trust — not firewalls.
